Start by giving passive support and progress to F1 support D1 low whil F2 covers the D at the point. This is a one puck game and can be played in situations from 1-1 to 3-2.

Description:

1. Red F1-F2 attack vs. Blue D1.2. Red D1 passively support at the blue line.3. Blue F1-F2 passively support at the top of the circles.4. On a turnover or after a frozen puck or goal Blue D1 pass to Blue F1 or F2. 5. Red F1-F2 and Blue F1 return to the lineup.6. Blue F1-F2 skate to the far blue line and turn back to attack Red D1 who follows.7. Red F3-F4 and blue D2 give passive support.8. Same game rotation happens at the other end with GF1-F2 attacking Bl D1 and GD1 and BF1-F2 support.-------------------------------------------

For those coaches who have large groups at hockey schools or try-outs this is a great transition game to play in smaller areas. Use the F7 Formation with 4 nets (2 on each goal line or 2 at one end and one at the other) and have 4 2/3 ice transition games going on at one time. If the players are not very aware on the ice then have them turn back at the red line instead of skating to the far blue line in order to avoid collisions. Progress from passive support to the new players joining the offense and defense. If you do this a 1-1 creates a 2-2 at each end, 2-1 creates a 3-3, 2-2 a 4-4, 3-2 a 5-5 or by sending out between 1 and 3 F's and 1 or 2 D you create random situations that the players must Read and Respond to. A great benefit to this transition game with active support is that the F's and D have a i.e. 2-1 for a few seconds only and just like in a real game the supporting players catch up to the play.

It is also a great way to teach offensive and defensive team play because the coach can create any situation he/she wants and because the game runs itself and there are no whistles the coach is free to coach. Have one coach with the D and one with the F's and talk to them when they come back. Only stop the game if it is totally off track and then do a short correction and get back to it.

Key Points:Give a target and time the skating. Hard passes, mirror the puck, stretch, shoot, rebound.

Description:1. Players line up at the four blue lines. This is done from both ends.2. Two players leave and 1 pass up to 3 at the far blue line who passes across the ice to 4.3. Player 1 mirror the passes and get a pass from 4.4. Player 2 skate up to the red line and then across the far blue line for a stretch pass.5. Player 1 pass to player 2 and join him to attack 2-0 vs. the goal.6. Player who does not shoot circle back to rebound for the next attack.

The new season is approaching. I am in the process of converting the video I have with new practice ideas into the 3gpp format that is much more universal than the wmv. I was using. I have so much posted now that about 25% of it is the same drill or game done by a different group. I will add the link to where it is posted before to give for example my U18 girl's doing a 3-0 weave with a regroup at the far end and add a pro team doing the same thing.

I am seeing a trend with the better coaches. "Less is more." So less whistles - more player engagement, example - the players watch to see when it is time to leave. I also see adding skill or situation components to drills. i.e. the shooter circles back and rebounds for the next shooter or give and go passes from the goal line or instead of a 1-0 with a shot and rebound now the shooter plays 1-1 with the next shooter - this can be an active battle or he simply gets in the way and the attacker has to make a move instead of going in non obstructed. In a 1-1, 2-1 etc. situation drill the better coaches allow them to play it out and the drill ends when the goalie freezes the puck, a goal or the D passes to a coach or a player.

You can see this in the last few drills I have posted. Troy Ward doesn't use whistles and the 2-1 ends when the play is finished and the next players watch and then leave. Corey Cross working with NHL players has a 2-0 with zero whistles and the none shooter circle back for a rebound.

Another thing I see is players move pucks after the drill to where they are needed next. Now the asst. coaches can listen to the key points for the next drill and don't appear like they are servants moving pucks around.

Less military command style teaching and more player involvement. This also frees the coach from being a traffic cop and allows him to talk with the players coming back to the line-up about what just happened.

I am seeing more transition games instead of situation drills and more small area games.

Another improvement is to change the situation drills or transition games and SAG to random numbers. So instead of a player knowing that is is a 1-1 have from 1 to 3 players leave on offense and on defense. Now they have to read the play and communicate.

Something I learned this summer working with former WHA, NHL player and asst. coach was to have a time limit on drills. So on a 3-0 middle drive rush they get 10' only to score or if it is against 1-2 or 3 opponents the same thing. This creates urgency and leads to more 'Deliberate Practice.'

Handle the puck all around the body. Loosen the shoulders and roll the wrists. Stick handle quietly and softly. You must be able to move the puck side to side, so the stick is too long if you cannot do this and too short if you are too bent over to see up ice. Separate the movement of the upper and lower body moving the puck one way and the body the other way. Use head and shoulder fakes.

Description:

1. Rink is separated into four lanes with one two groups starting one way and two the other. (you can use the offside dots and middle dot instead of cones)2. Players do each exercise down and back two of the lanes on their side of the ice.3. Do a new exercise each time with a coach or player demonstrating the new exercise.

Do everything with quick feet. Make hard passes and D follow the play right away.

Description:

1. Start in the middle circle and 2 F regroup with one D. Attack 2-0 and D follow. Shoot then rebound. 2. Forward pick up a puck in the corner and cycle once and either go to the net and shoot again and then get a new puck and pass to the point and screen for the shot or cycle and pass to the point and screen.3. Do this from both sides.

In the B202 Formation the players face each other from the bluelines and across the neutral zone. This is a good formation for skill development and many situations can be created. This is the Swedish U20 Team using this formation for passing and attacking.

Everyone face the puck all of the time. On the regroup give wall and middle support and not continuous crossing (as you should in a game.) Attack with speed and pursue the first rebound before returning to the line-up.

Description:

1. Line up at each blue line with forwards and D together.2. BF1-2 cross and drop.3. BF1-2 regroup with RD 1-2.4. RD 1-2 hinge and pass up to BF1-2.5. BF1-2 regroup with RD 1-2.6. RD 1-2 hinge and pass up to BF1-2.7. BF 1-2 attack along with the BD who passed up ice making it 3-0.8. Repeat the other way with RF 1-2 regrouping.

Head on a swivel looking before you get the puck. Line up the puck and pick it up as you start turning.

Description:

When a player goes back for a loose puck they need to shoulder check to see where the open ice is. They should turn just as they are getting to the loose puck and have it on the stick as they are turning as opposed to getting the puck and then turning. The coach is a former NHL defenseman.

Protect the puck on offense and stick on the puck on defense. Keep score between teams. Young players go about 15" and older players shorter shifts.

Description:

1. Start with 1 exchanging pucks with 2 while skating at the top of the circle.2. Move to the middle circle on the whistle and 2 to the top of the circle.3. Originals 1's play keepaway with puck coach puts in. 4. On whistle move to the far end and play 1 on 1 cross ice.5. Return to the line-up and start as a passer.

The player in the middle lane skate hard to the top of the goal crease. The two players in opposite wide lanes are about a quarter of a zone behind. Force the backchecker to make the proper decision.

Description:

1. Players leave from the red line.2. R1 pass wide to R2 or R3.3. R1 skate hard to the top of the goal crease and stop.4. R2 and R3 follow in a second wave behind R1.5. R3 pass across to R2 who one times the puck on net.6. Play a rebound or a new puck shot by the coach and work together to score within 10 seconds from the start.7. Next group repeat.8. Create a contest to see how many goals they can score within the time limit.

Create intensity by only giving 10" for the offense to score. Attacking team uses the middle drive.

Description:

1. Start from the red line and attack 3 on 3.2. Offensive team use the middle drive.3. Attackers get 10 seconds to score.4. Coach blow whistle if it takes too long.5. On transition or whistle pass to the players at the blue line.6. Team who was on offense now skate to the blue line and defend.

I used this drill and game with NCAA players in the summer. I will get a video of the drill and game when I have my team this year. Putting a scoring time limit on drills or game situations creates an urgency. Have lines compete against each other.

I posted this as a demonstration of how the top level players have good habits and great technique. They move the puck to the open man, support the puck and get open, have sticks on the puck and in the passing lanes. They usually bury the puck if they have a good chance. Notice how they face the play with the puck by pivoting and turning so they can see everyone. They move to open ice and really protect the puck with their body.

Lots of other good things. If you go to the videos of the 85ers doing a DT100 transition game you can see the player in blue with the white pad on his back. He still skates the same bent over way and does that Gretzky quick turn to gain ice for himself. I coached them when he was 12-13 for two springs. 40 practices 90 minutes each for ten weeks for two years and we went into two tournaments a year. So I coached them 80 practices or 120 hours. Five of the 9 F were still playing pro last year.

They work out every week day with this format to get ready for the season.- skate around handling the puck.- some passing, shooting drills run by a coach.- play a 4-4 full ice tournament and keep score.- play 3-3 cross ice and keep score.- do about 10 minutes of skating.

Same player when he was 13. He is in NHL another small player won the Hobey Baker, another drafted in second round and played some in NHL, two who play in Europe now. They were skilled enough to do any drill or game that the pro's in the video above can do. Just not as fast.

Turn facing the puck and time when to ask for the pass. Rebound and circle back to rebound for the next shooter.

Description:

A. 3 leave the corner and pass to 2 who turns to the outside and comes back for the pass.B. 3 follow the pass.C. 2 move into the middle and pass to 1 when he is ready for the pass.D. 2 follow the pass.E. 1 curl to the outside and back for a pass from 2 then skate in and shoot-rebound.F. 1 curl back to rebound for 2.G. 1 go to the corner to repeat the other way.

Defender create an angle from inside to cut the ice in half, deflect the play wide, angle at the back of the inside shoulder with the stick on the puck and finish. Second checker mirror from a little behind.

Description:

1. Coach shoot the puck across the ice on the attacking teams half or dump it softly.2. Red 1 race for the puck and attack the Blue net.3. Blue 1 and 2 tag up at the blue line then arc slightly behind the puck carrier to cut the ice in half.4. Blue 1 close the gap approaching toward the back shoulder with body on body and stick on the puck.5. Blue 1 rub out Red 1 and Blue 2 pick up the puck.6. Blue 1 and 2 attack the other way while Red 1 back checks.7. Repeat with Blue 3 on offense vs. Red 1-2.

* This can also be done as a 1-1 drill to teach the concepts of angling - deflect-steer-angle-finish with body on body and stick on the puck.

This is a great game to practice any team play situation. I learned it from Gene Reilly who has coached a lot of college, AHL and European pro hockey.----------------------

T2-4, D4 – Reilly Team Play Rotation

Key Points:

Practice team play situations at each end. Even or odd man. Leave players in the neutral zone for pp and pk. Situations.

Description:

1. For spectialty teams start with 5-5 at each end with one defensive player in the neutral zone making it a 5-4. You can use any number 3-3 to 6-5.2. Start green on pp vs. white on pk at one end. On a goal, frozen puck or shot down the ice the green get ready to pk and the white the pp.3. The other end starts with the white on the offense first.

*The play rotates from end to end.

We used this rotation when working with university, college or pro teams because there are usually at least 8 D and 12 F. In Canada the minor hockey roster is 17 skaters so this only works with smaller numbers. Another option is to use the same game but when the puck is shot down the other group play 4-3 or else 5 offensive players practice the pp for one minute 5-2 and then shoot the puck down.

Two on one contests. The attackers must get open, pick, shoot, pass etc. to score and the defender must realize it is really a 2 on 2 and cover the attack or pass to the most dangerous player and give the other attacker to the goalie. Lots of talking on defense.

Description:

1. Play a 2 on 1 at each end.2. Blue attack at one end and Red at the other.3. The first team to score gets one point.4. Switch the players after a goal is scored.5. Contest is to see who can score 5 goals first (or some other total)

*Making the 2-1 a game gives urgency to the attackers to score and the defender to battle.

My diagrams are coded in the ABC format. This is like a library coding to make it easier to find things. Code designed by IIHF Hall of Fame coach Juhani Wahlsten (3 Olympics, 7 World Championships and former captain of Finland National Team)

A - Skating and individual skill

B - Partner skills

C - Game situation drills

D - Games full and SAG

DT - Transition games

E - Shootouts and contests

F – Fitness skating.

G – Goaltender training.

O – Off-ice training.

T - Teaching drills and games where the coach is controlling the situation and giving instruction on individual skills or team play.

The letter tells what is being worked on. The number behind the letter tells what the area of the ice it is being done in.

A1 – cross ice A100 – cross ice with a puck. (ind. Or skating skills cross-ice and then cross-ice with a puck) A3 – around the rink. A300 – around the rink with a puck. Etc.The same happens with all the drills and games. i.e.

D – Game situation.

D1 – Full ice. D100 – Full ice with extra players on the side or in the box.D2 – Cross-ice game. D200 with extra players rotating in.D3 – one cross-ice game and another game from the goal line to the far blue line. D300 with extra players rotating in.D4 – one zone game and D400 with extra players.D5 – A D4 game at each end and a D2 game in the neutral zone. D500 with extra players.D6 – Full ice with two nets on each goal line making two full ice games at once. D600 with extra players.D7 – ¼ ice games with two nets on each goal line. D700 extra players rotating in.D8 – Four games at once with two nets on each goal line and two nets near the red line. D800 extra players. (good to have a hose, boards or rink divider along the red line.) Good game formation with smaller players.

Face the puck, accerate with the puck and follow the shot for a rebound.

Description:

A. Leave from diagonal blue lines.B. 1 leave and exchange the puck with 2.C. 1 drop the puck on the red line.D. 1 skate around the circle and pick up the puck left by the other player.E. Skate in and shoot.F. Rebound.G. Rebound or exchange passes with the next shooter.H. Repeat with two 3's leaving.

Mike is presenting on ice in Vienna. The players are Austrian so there is a language barrier even though they take english in school. The video also has him teaching pk swarming but I will do another posting on only that. Now pro teams swarm if the offensive team is in a weak attacking position facing the glass battling for a puck. The defenders will outnumber them.---------------------------------------T2 Slot Set to Diamond HIgh PP Rotation with Mike Babcock

Key Points:

Three players rotate high and create options. Players should set up in one timer shooting positions and be on the off wing for passing.

Description:

Part AA. Start in a slot set with 1 on the half wall,4 below the goal line, 5 in front.B. #1 shoot left, 2 left, 3 right. (play to goalies left-opposite if to goalies right)C. Start with 2 getting a pass in the middle from 1.D. #2 shoot if it is open.

Part BE. No shot then 1-2-3 rotate clockwise. 2 pass back to 1 who moves to the middle point while 3 move to a shooting position above the opposite dot.F. Options for 2. 1-Shoot, 2-Shot pass to 5, 3-one timer for 2 or 3, 4-Restart high rotation.G. Read what the defenders give and constantly attack the net.

I just posted Mike Babcock's on ice demo of the power play. Now I will show a pro team practicing the power play and penalty kill at each end. The rotation is 10 players at each end with the reds vs. the whites. Start with 5 reds on the pp and 4 whites on the pk. The players at the other end wait with 5 whites ready to attack vs. 4 reds. Start and go for about a minute. The coach spots a new puck when needed or stops the play for coaching tips. After about a minute the other end starts and the original end rotates and now 5 whites are ready to go on the power play vs. 4 reds.

I am going to post videos of 5-4, 4-5, 5-3, 3-5 with captions of coaching points and focus on the power play and pk principles of each.

This rotation can be used for 5-4, 5-3, 4-3, 5-5, 6-5.

You can also have a game where one puck is used and when the puck is frozen, a goal is scored or puck cleared the other end goes while the original end switches roles. I will paste that diagram to this posting.----------------------------T2 D400 - Power Play 5-4 - Pro

Start with an overload and rotate into a 1-3-1 Diamond. - Move to off-wing shooting positions on the sides.- Low player screen when the puck is high.- Second low player be in a shot pass position on high pucks.- Second low player move to the mid slot when the puck is low or in the middle, he can also stay in the middle as a short passing option, one time shooter, screen and deflect point shots.

Skate in straight lines from the net out. Sticks must deny the most dangerous pass. Stick on the puck when checking. Block shots.

Description:

1. Practice specialty teams at both ends and rotate pp and pk when the puck is at the other end.2. Coach spot a new puck when the original is out of play.3. Closest defender check the puck carrier. Pressure when they see numbers or poor control and stay with player when they skate with the puck. Contain is there is complete control in the triple threat position.4. Skate in straight lines from the net out.5. Priority is to deny shots from the point and the slot.6. On passes from mid-point to a player at the side the middle checker should drop straight back and not chase the puck (this team had a pk % in the 70's which was last in the NHL until they did this instead of chasing passes laterally. They got killed on the touch back which allowed the mid point time to do anything he wanted.)7. Overload the strong side and give them the player who is two passes away but deny the cross ice pass with sticks in the passing lane.

Move the puck quickly to produce one timer shots and back door plays. Outnumber the pk on rebounds.

Description:

1. Set up a 5-3 power play at each end and work one end at a time.2. Coach spot the puck to start.3. Power play use one touch passes and shots to score.5. Power play should use rotation, screens, picks.6. Player in front screen on point shots and kick back when the puck is low on a side.7. To spread the pk the low players can start below the goal line and pass behind or walk out.

The key is to eliminate one timer shots from the point, from the player in the middle and the back door play.

Description:

1. When the puck is passed down the D in front moves to that side.2. Weak side high player drop low to take away back door one timer.3. Strong side high player drop down and front the middle attacker.4. Strong side high player get in shooting lane when puck is at the point.5. Weak side high player cover middle and take away cross ice pass with stick.6. Low player eliminate tip ins in front but don't get tied up.7. D to D pass everyone shift.

(Right low player in last minute doesn't move out and back and many openings are created. Important to skate in straight lines from the net out to low, middle, high spots)